Hey teamChiseledBranches! How is your new year going so far? We are nearing the end of month one, and I hope you are all sticking with me. 2014 is slated to be a great year of growth and change for us! Consistency and optimism will go a long way in keeping you on the path you have been laying out for yourself! You wouldn’t be visiting this site if you weren’t determined to adhere to the commitment you made to yourself and your new lifestyle. You all know that I consider myself a lifelong learner, and am often searching for new information to make your fitness journey (as well as mine) as efficient, fulfilling and as fun as possible. However, I have to say that sometimes it isn’t new or more information that we need – it is a well defined plan of action that is reasonable, measurable, and personalized.

Did you take the time to write down your goals? If not, it’s not too late to do it now! In addition to writing them down – say them aloud! Share them with people close to you, and with your team here on ChiseledBranches – make it known you are working toward them. Each and every time you voice it you are making a point to hold yourself accountable for reaching it. It is a great habit to get into – and one that I am getting much better about. I had gotten used to only telling Frank my goals, because he is my best friend and the main person I confide in. However, my new approach is to not have goals that are only discussed in confidence, I am telling more people in order to help my goals take solid form.

The well defined portion of the this action plan is a must, because you need to map out your approach. The better the map, the more you will enjoy the journey because you will be less likely to be derailed by outside forces, and you improve the chances of arriving at your destination in a timely manner. Don’t get me wrong, I am totally a slow and steady type person – because it is consistency in behavior over time that really allows us to build that unstoppable momentum which drives us forward on our path to maintaining a healthy way of living. However, many people will grow discouraged if they don’t see the desired changes in themselves within a few months of modifying their habits. In order to avoid becoming discouraged, we need to boot the idea of instant gratification when it comes to reaching your fitness goals. Time is your friend in this journey, and we have to make an effort to not be in a rush. Hard, I know, but the sooner you focus on the ultimate goal, the less important immediate results will seem.

The plan must be reasonable and personalized because you are re-prioritizing things in YOUR life, and bumping fitness and nutrition up the list a few notches. Some people who go too extreme too quickly burn out and find themselves falling back into old habits instead of making progress on their new ones. Getting MAXIMUM results and using your time efficiently is what these Beachbody programs are all about – but maintaining your results by applying what you learned about your body and nutrition along the way is where the real value lies! It takes the yo-yo out of the journey! The key goals in your plan must be measurable because you’ll use the milestones that you hit to fuel your fire. That fuel will push you forward! I suggest focusing on body fat % and progress photos – both of those things fuel my fire!

Reach out and share your goals here, and join our team in our accountability groups to help you reach them! This is one of the main reasons why I became a coach, because we are stronger and more likely to succeed if we have a support system in place! The support system is here – all you have to do is ask to be a part of it!